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Publisher's Summary

A brilliant collection of short stories from the double Man Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.

Hilary Mantel is one of Britain's most accomplished and acclaimed writers. In these ten bracingly subversive tales, all her gifts of characterisation and observation are fully engaged, summoning forth the horrors so often concealed behind everyday façades. Childhood cruelty is played out behind the bushes in ‘Comma'; nurses clash in ‘Harley Street' over something more than professional differences; and in the title story, staying in for the plumber turns into an ambiguous and potentially deadly waiting game.

Whether set in a claustrophobic Saudi Arabian flat or on a precarious mountain road in Greece, these stories share an insight into the darkest recesses of the spirit. Displaying all of Mantel's unmistakable style and wit, they reveal a great writer at the peak of her powers.

Would you listen to The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher again? Why?

No. There are few universal themes and even less, riveting stories. Just once off, well written stories.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It is fascinating to link Mantel's known, personal story with her fiction. Particularly the nasty aspects of medical misdiagnosis. The space between these lines is worth the intellectual exercise. Of least interest is the perceived intransigence on certain issues which trudges on without being of any value to another human being. For the first time I really saw the more unattractive side of this author's personality.

Which scene was your favorite?

In short stories this is hard to choose. The characters trapped in Saudi Arabia were my least favourite.

Who was the most memorable character of The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher and why?

The assassin in the last story was memorable because he lacked all credibility. Come to think of it, I did not believe the representation of the remarkably calm old lady.

The first story in the collection describes a woman in Saudi Arabia who offers assistance to a chance visitor, a stranger, who then becomes a persistent, and unwanted, admirer. Hilary Mantel herself describes the story as one of a person being trapped and constrained, whose agency is limited by circumstances and cultural difference.

The book title is derived from a story, in turn based on an experience of the author, in which her apartment overlooks the grounds of a nearby hospital at which Margaret Thatcher has received dental attention. In the story, the woman is expecting a plumber at the time Margaret Thatcher is scheduled to be leaving the hospital and in full view of the apartment window. The 'plumber' arrives and sets about assembling a rifle, engages in conversation with the apartment owner, and turns out to be an IRA assassin. After discussing Mrs Thatcher, fully aware of the intended assassination, the apartment owner brings the IRA operative a cup of tea...

The most beautifully written story concerns an author coming to talk about her work in a small town where she is booked overnight at a crumbling local hotel. There she converses and engages with a physically disabled girl, an employee at the establishment, who attends to her needs. Their exchange is brought to the foreground and the tired run-of-the-mill greying bookclub recedes in importance.

What other book might you compare The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher to, and why?

None really, it is a 'stand alone'

Which character – as performed by Jane Carr – was your favourite?

I liked most of the 'cast'

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The endings

Any additional comments?

A classic and much as expected by HM in a class of her own

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

J Telfer

9/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"a dull and uninspiring collection of rubbish"

i really struggled to get through these stories. Not one of them was worth the time i wasted

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Zazie

Belgium

1/23/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great short stories, great narration"

Where does The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

2nd - after the Collectors by Philip Pullman

What other book might you compare The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher to, and why?

Difficult to say - all short story collections have their special flavour.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

It would spoil the fun...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No - one story at the time. Like a good chocolate.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Dr Zube

Ross on Wye, United Kingdom

1/9/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not a great audio title to be honest"

I have no doubt from a literary point of view these stories are top draw, I have to say however they don't seem to work that well as an audio listen. A couple of the stories stay with you, which is good, but the rest are, well, dull to be honest. One for a paperback I would say rather than a download. Performance is good but you can only make tea parties and anorexia so interesting without being depressing.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Paula

LIDINGO, Sweden

11/9/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"A let down"

Would you try another book written by Hilary Mantel or narrated by Jane Carr?

Following the fantastic Wolf Hall and Bringi up the bodiesthis was a pale shadow, I would think twice before buying another Mantel, narration was fine.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hilary Mantel again?

A follow up to Bring up the bodies would be a certain choice, anything else would require closer analysis of reader reviews.

How could the performance have been better?

The stories were too shallow and often too short. I did not get to the end of the series of short stories because it was not an enjoyable experience to listen

What character would you cut from The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher?

N/a short stories

Any additional comments?

Not recommended

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Roger

10/2/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not enjoyable"

Only listened to the first two stories and neither myself or my wife enjoyed either so gave up and didn't listen to the rest.

0 of 5 people found this review helpful

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